Academic training and decision-making in palliative care within Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences: a pilot study in the Brazilian context
1
Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, São Paulo State University, Marília, Brazil
2
Graduate Program in Health Sciences and Human Communication, São Paulo State University, Marília, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and promote quality of life through comprehensive initiatives that respect individual values and autonomy. Speech-language and hearing pathologists play a key role in supporting communication, swallowing, and patient dignity1-2. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of the methods used to evaluate academic training and clinical decision-making in palliative care within Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in the Brazilian context.
METHODS:
This pilot study adopted a cross-sectional, observational design and was conducted in Brazil following ethical approval (7874215). The sample comprised two groups of speech-language and hearing pathologists: (1) professionals with general training, recruited through convenience sampling, and (2) professionals working in palliative care, selected using snowball sampling until data saturation was achieved. Data were collected through structured online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were examined through clinical-qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS:
The pilot study included 11 participants. More than half reported no formal exposure to palliative care during undergraduate education, as well as limited discussion of topics such as death, pain, suffering, and spirituality. Most participants also reported a lack of practical experience with patients receiving palliative care. Interview findings indicated that, in the absence of well-established guidelines and robust scientific evidence, clinical decision-making is primarily collaborative, involving multidisciplinary teams and family members.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings indicate that the proposed methods are feasible and effective in identifying important gaps in the education and training of speech-language and hearing pathologists for palliative care, with direct implications for clinical decision-making and quality of care. These results underscore the need for the systematic inclusion of palliative care in undergraduate curricula, strengthening of the scientific evidence base, development of institutional protocols, and ongoing professional education to support compassionate, ethical, and evidence-based practice.
Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and promote quality of life through comprehensive initiatives that respect individual values and autonomy. Speech-language and hearing pathologists play a key role in supporting communication, swallowing, and patient dignity1-2. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of the methods used to evaluate academic training and clinical decision-making in palliative care within Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in the Brazilian context.
METHODS:
This pilot study adopted a cross-sectional, observational design and was conducted in Brazil following ethical approval (7874215). The sample comprised two groups of speech-language and hearing pathologists: (1) professionals with general training, recruited through convenience sampling, and (2) professionals working in palliative care, selected using snowball sampling until data saturation was achieved. Data were collected through structured online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were examined through clinical-qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS:
The pilot study included 11 participants. More than half reported no formal exposure to palliative care during undergraduate education, as well as limited discussion of topics such as death, pain, suffering, and spirituality. Most participants also reported a lack of practical experience with patients receiving palliative care. Interview findings indicated that, in the absence of well-established guidelines and robust scientific evidence, clinical decision-making is primarily collaborative, involving multidisciplinary teams and family members.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings indicate that the proposed methods are feasible and effective in identifying important gaps in the education and training of speech-language and hearing pathologists for palliative care, with direct implications for clinical decision-making and quality of care. These results underscore the need for the systematic inclusion of palliative care in undergraduate curricula, strengthening of the scientific evidence base, development of institutional protocols, and ongoing professional education to support compassionate, ethical, and evidence-based practice.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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